Sermons on Galatians, Sermon 7
The. 7. Sermon vponupon the first Chapter, which is alſo the firſt vponupon the ſecond Chapter.
22 For I vvas vnknovvne by face to the Churches of Ievvrie that vvere in Chriſt.
23 Saue onelyonly they had heard ſay, hee that erevvhiles perſecuted vsus, doth novv preach the fayth vvhichwhich he had deſtroyed for a …ime.
24 And they glorified God in mee.
The ſeconde Chapter.
ABoute fourteene yeares afte, I vvent vp agayne too Ieruſalem vvith Barnabas, and tooke Titus vvith me alſo.
2 And I vvent vp by reuelation, and communed vvith them concerning the Goſpel that I preach among the Gentiles, hovvbeeit priuately vvith thoſe that are in eſtimation, leaſt I might in any vviſe runne, or hauehave runne in vaine.
WEe hauehave ſeene howe S. Paule hath on the one ſide publiſhed the Goſpell through the whole world without warrant of any man, cōtenting himſelf in that he was ſure he ſerued God, and that his labour was acceptable to him: and yet notwithſtanding hath not forſlowed in the meane while, to ſeeke brotherhod, and good agreement with the Apoſtles, as a thing right requiſite to ſuccour the infirmitie of ſuche as might hauehave bin thruſt out of the way, vnleſſe God had helped them in their feebleneſſe. So hauehave we on the one ſide a warrant of S. Paules doctrine: & on the other ſide we ſee how he intended to gather togither gods children, to the end they might be ioyned in one band of fayth, and glorifie God as it were with one heart, one minde, & one mouth. And therwithall we ſee alſo, that S. Paule paſſed not to aske coūſell whether he ſhould go foreward or backward. For although he were vnknown to ſuch as had bin in the faith before him: yet forſlowed he not to ſerue God, wherevnto he had bin erſt called. And this ſurely is one verie notable poynt more: for it ſheweth vsus that he was wholy bent to ſerue God, & loked not for his hire at mens hands, to the end they ſhould pleaſure him or eſteme of him as he deſerued. VVherfore let vsus learn to walk after ſuch a faſhion in the vocation whervnto we be called, that although men loke not vpō vsus, yet we may not ceaſſe to diſcharge our duties faithfully, contenting our ſelues in that it pleaſed god to allow of vsus. For they that hang vpō mē ſhall always be attainted with ſome ſpice of vainglory, & it wilbe impoſsible for thē to walk purely & ſoūdly.
Beſides this,Act. 9. d. 26 Saint Luke ſheweth vsus that Saint Paule muſt needes hauehave bin led with an inuincible conſtancie, ſeeing hee ſtepped not out of the way, although men made no reckening at all of his dooings. For he ſayth that the faythfull had him in ſuſpition, and that they ſhunned him when hee came too Ieruſalem. Nowe it was a greeuous temptation to Saint Paule, to ſee that he coulde not bee receyued intoo the companie of the faythfull, conſidering that hee had ſuffered ſo much alreadie. For we knowe that at his firſt comming to Damaſco,2. Cor. 11. g 33. the gates were ſhet vponupon him, (as we hauehave ſeene heeretofore) ſo that he was fayne too bee let downe in a Panyer or Basket. Ye ſee then that as ſoone as hee was conuerted to the faith of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, hee was by and by toſſed with great perſecutions. After that, hee went intoo the Countrey of Arabie, and there trauelled faythfully. And thinketh hee for all that, too hauehave friendſhip and attonement with the faythfull? The gate is ſhette agaynſt him, and men ſhunne him as a wilde beaſt. But before [hee was turned to the fayth,] he had bin honoured, and in great credite, bothe with the enimies of the Goſpell, and in the Sinagog of the Iewes. He had renounced all theſe things, euen ſo farre as too ſee himſelfe baniſhed out of the place: and yet for all that, they vouchſafed not to admit him to hauehave place in the Church. VVherefore he might hauehave bin ſo greeued at ſuche vnkindneſſe, as it might hauehave made him to hauehave giuen ouer all, if he had had his minde tyed here bylowe. Howbeeit foraſmuch as he had giuen himſelfe wholly too Gods ſeruice, and was fully determined too holde out to the ende although men cunned him no thanke for his labour: therefore hee turned not aſide from his right way. And ſuch examples ought too incourage vsus at this day, when wee ſee there are ſo fewe (yea euen in the Church,) that like well of the thing that is done of a pure and right meaning zeale, inſomuch that ſome backbyte it through enuie, others are ſo ſqueymiſh as a man cannot by any meanes content them, and other ſome are full of wicked ſlaunderouſneſſe and lying. Therefore foraſmuch as we ſee howe men doo oftentymes cauſe vsus to ſwarue one way or other: let vsus learne to giuegive our ſelues in ſuche wiſe vntoo God, as we may ſtedfaſtly continue in the way which hee ſheweth vsus, and not excuze our ſelues by our owne weakneſſe, ſeeing that Saint Paule goeth before vsus, and reacheth vsus his hande. He was a fraile man as we be, and yet did God ſtrengthen him in ſuch wiſe by his holy ſpirite, that he ouerpaſſed ſuche lettes. VVherefore ſeeing wee perceyue our ſelues to bee weake, let vsus beſeech God to arme vsus with ſuch conſtancie, as wee may not ceaſſe to diſcharge our duetie towardes him, though ſome miſreport vsus, ſome blame vsus, and otherſome mocke vsus, and make none account of all our labour when we indeuer to doo well. Although then that our labour ſeeme to bee loſt and miſpent, yet let it ſuffice vsus that God lyketh and alloweth of it. And ſo yee ſee what wee hauehave too gather vppon that Text. Aboue all things, let vsus not couet to be renowmed, and too get great fame in this worlde: for let vsus ſtreyne our ſelues as muche as may bee poſsibly, and yet ſhall wee neuer bee better, than Saint Paule was. After he had preached the Goſpell in ſuch wyſe, yea euen as a man continually rapt vp intoo heauen, inſomuche that although the reuelation whereof he ſpeaketh in the ſeconde too the Corinthians,2. Co. 12. a. 2 was exhibited too him but for one tyme, yet the frute of it ſhewed it ſelfe all the tyme of his lyfe: yet notwithſtanding hee was vnknowne in the meane while: yea euen in all the Churches of Iewrie. And ſo it might ſeme well that hee had not greatly profyted, ſeeing that all his labour was buryed. But it was ynough for him that God edified the furtheſt ſtraungers by his meanes. VVee ſee then that hee ſought not too bee muche renowmed, nor too purchaſe credite and authoritie among men. As concerning that hee ſayeth, the Churches of Iewrie that were in Christ: hee addeth that worde of purpoſe, bicauſe there was yet ſtill ſome ſeede of God among the Iewes, and the promiſes were ſo giuen too them, as they were not vtterly cut off, vntill ſuch time as they renounced Ieſus Chriſt quite and cleane, and thereby were vtterly bereft of the inheritance of the life that was aſsigned vntoo them. For like as God had choſen the lyne of Abraham: ſo our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt came intoo the worlde too bee the miniſter of thoſe whome God had ſo adopted, and to performe the promiſes that had bin giuen to their fathers. Our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt reiected not the Iewes too whome the promiſes belonged (according alſo as it is ſayde in the ſeconde of the Actes) but the Church of God abode among them ſtill,Act. 2. f. 39. and their Circumciſion was not a thing deuiſed by man. And although they were al growen out of kinde, and many errours and wicked opinions were crept in among them, ſo as Gods ſeruice was turmoyled, and Religion corrupted: yet notwithſtanding, that people was acknowledged for Gods houſeholde flocke. The Sinagoges therefore that had not yet bewrayed their vnbeleefe by withdrawing themſelues from Ieſus Chriſt, are reckened heere by Saint Paule for Churches, howbeeit, not for perfect Churches, for they were not yet regenerated in Ieſus Chriſt. For then was the renuing of the whole worlde, when Ieſus Chriſt was ſent too bring home vntoo God, both thoſe that were neare hande,Eph. 2. d. 17 and thoſe that were farre off: neare hande, as the Iewes which had the lawe ſtill: and a farre off, as the heathen men who had no likelihood of the heauenly kingdome, bicauſe God had left them like poore wilde beaſtes, and they were ſtrayed away in their owne ſuperſtitions and Idolatries. But Ieſus Chriſt came to gather all togither, and to knit all things togither again that were ſcattered afore. And thereby we ſee how the law ought to hauehave led the Iewes to the Goſpell, as it is ſayde throughout all the holy Scripture. And it is very needfull for vsus [to knowe the ſame,] leaſt wee ſurmize that none of all the things that are conteyned in the law, can ſtand vsus in any ſtead in theſe dayes. For it is certaine, that although the Ceremonies be no more in vſe, yet the truth and ſubſtance of them remaine alwayes vntoo vsus, ſo as wee cannot euen at this day be faythfull, but we muſt alſo be the children of Abraham, and the diſciples of Moyſes. Not that we muſt be hilde ſtill vnderunder the olde ſhadowes: but that wee muſt match things togither which cannot be put aſunder: that is to wit, the Law and the Goſpell. But yet further, let vsus vnderſtande, that we cannot at this day be counted for the Church before God, (that is to ſay, all the companies of men in the worlde cannot obteyne that honourable tytle▪) except we bee in Ieſus Chriſt. For that head muſt knitte vsus vntounto God his father, and by that meanes muſt we hauehave enterance into the kingdome of heauen. And therefore as for all them that knowe not Ieſus Chriſt, although they bee marked with baptiſme, and beare the name of Chriſtians: yet are they but as …otten members vt…erly cut off, notwithſtanding that they pretende too bee of the troupe and number of Gods children. Thus yee ſee ſtill what wee hauehave too marke vppon this Text. Furthermore Saint Paule addeth, that th… common report was, that hee which had earſt perſecuted the fayth, dyd preach the ſame, and that God was glorified by that meanes. Heere once agayne wee ſee that Saint Paule preacheth not his owne prayſes, for hee condemneth himſelfe too hauehave beene an enimie and perſecuter of the Church. True it is that hee ſpeaketh of the common report: but yet doth hee rehearce the verie thing as it was done in deede. So then hee cloketh not the thing that was too hys owne reproche and ſhame. A…man might hauehave caſt him in the teeth, that hee had perſecuted the poore faythfull ones, that hee had too the vttermoſt of his power ſhed innocent bloud, yea and that hee had compelled the weaklings to blaſpheme. But yet for al this, he granteth to this inditement of his owne accord, and ſpeaketh not as moſt men do, who make as it were a glorie of it, that they hauehave bin enimies of the Goſpell. It is certaine that Saint Paule in making ſuche reherſall, was touched with earneſt ſorineſſe for that misbehauiour of his,1. Co. 15. a. … according as in another Text hee ſayth, that hee is not worthie to bee called an Apoſtle. Nowe then, yee may bee ſure he felt alwayes ſome pricking in his heart, for that hee had earſt ſo rebelled agaynſt God, and bin ſo euill mynde…, yea and altogither ſpitefull agaynſt the Goſpell▪ Neuertheleſſe howſoeuer the world went with him, he had leuer to acknowledge his fault with al humilitie, than to leaue the thing vnſought that might be to Gods glorie. So then let vsus learne with him, too acknowledge ſimply the offences that wee hauehave committed, when it ſtandeth vponupon the honouring of God and let vsus not be loth to receiue ſome ſha…e before men. For that is the way for vsus alſo too hauehave our ſinnes buryed before God, ſo as they may neuer come to account, nor to remembrance more: that is to wit, if we be contented too ſuſteyne ſome marke of infamie before men if neede be, that God may hauehave his due. This therefore is the thing whiche wee hauehave too remember in that it is ſayde, that the common reporte wente that hee had earſt deſtroyed the fayth, as hee had done in deede. Truely the fayth of the Goſpell ſhall euermore get the vpper hande of all the aſſaultes of Sathan, and of all the wicked: Therefore it lay not in Saint Paules power … aboliſhe the fayth nor too ouerthrowe it, at ſuch tyme as hee was caryed with ſuch furie as wee hauehave ſeene. For the fayth is grounded vppon Gods truth whiche is inuincible, it is not ſubiect too the opinions of men. But Saint Paule had reſpect heere too the infirmitie of the ſimple ſort whome hee had caſt downe as muche as lay in him.Act. 26. c. 11 For it is ſayde in the Actes, that hee did not onelyonly perſecute the Chriſtians, but alſo made ſome of them too recant. Lyke as nowadayes when any great number is perſecuted, ſome ſpare neyther theyr bloud nor theyr lyues for the confeſsing of the name of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Otherſome redeeme this wretched and flightfull lyfe by recanting, ſo that they baniſh themſelues from the Kingdome of heauen as muche as they can, caſt themſelues intoo Satans ſnares, and throw themſelues headlong into endleſſe death, and all too eſcape the handes of Tyrantes and of theyr enimies. Therefore Saint Paules crueltie is purpoſely condemned by the holy Ghoſt, for that he not onelyonly was full of pryde and ſtubbornneſſe agaynſt God, but alſo had inforced many too recant and giuegive ouer the fayth of the Goſpell. Yee ſee then howe hee behaued himſelfe: and that muſt ſerue for our learning. For although the worde abide ſtill in his full ſtate, and wee preiudice it not at all by our weakneſſe: yet notwithſtanding the fayth is caſt downe in our perſons. For if I ſwarue too pleaſe Gods enimies, or if I diſguyze the truth, or by any meanes diſsemble: then is my fayth defaced.
True it is (as I hauehave ſayde alreadie) that Gods worde ſhall alwayes holde his owne: and yet oftentimes the fall of one man ſhal draw a great hauocke after it. If men ſee ſome one perſon recant, at whoſe hande great conſtancie was looked for: then are many poore ſoules ſhaken, and they wote not what too ſay. True it is that wee ought not to reſt vppon men: but yet for all that, (as wee ſhall declare agayne anon) there are many that hauehave neede too bee confirmed by good example. Nowe if a man caſt a ſtumbling blocke in their way, they bee as good as vtterly ouerthrowne, or elſe they be ſo hartſhaken as they wote not where to become. VVherfore let vsus lerne to cōmit our ſelues vntounto god! & ſeing that the diuel hath ſo many vnderlings whiche ſeeke nothing but too bring all too confuſion, and imploy themſelues wholy to ouerwhelme the Chriſtian fayth: let vsus pray God to ſtrengthen vsus with ſuch conſtancie, as our enimies may bee put too ſhame though we bee aſſayled neerelyer than we bee. And let vsus not onelyonly care eueryevery man for himſelfe, but alſo for the great number of poore ſoules whom wee ſee as it were in the VVoolues mouth: for they ſhall bee tormented and threatned, and finally laboured by flatteryes and allurements too recant. Therefore when wee fee ſuch aſſaultes gyuen too our brothers: at leaſtwize let vsus hauehave the heart too pray God too ayde them at theyr neede, ſo as theyr fayth maye continue ſtill inuincible, and get the vpper hande, and that they may neuer ſwarue, for all that euer Satan and all his broode can practize. So muche the more then behoueth it vsus to marke this Text, where it is ſayde that Saint Paule did caſt downe and deſtroy the fayth. For although God will alwayes maintaine his truth: yet doo not men ceaſſe too go too deſtruction, bycauſe theyr fayth is ſhaken by ſwaruing and ſtepping aſyde from the right way. Furthermore, wee hauehave wherewith too confirme oure ſelues, ſo that althoughe men continue not in ſuch conſtancie as were requiſyte, and too bee wyſhed, yet let vsus not bee too muche abaſhed at it, ſeeyng it is a thing that hathe beene common in all ages. VVas Sainct Paules preaching of the leſſe credite, bycauſe there were manye renegates, that in the ende ſhewed themſelues too bee Hypocrites and full of vnfaythfulneſſe? Euen ſome of hys owne companions that had beene linked wyth him as twoo fingers of one hande, gaue him quyte ouer in the ende. And yet muſte not Sainct Paules doctrine bee reiected for all that. Alſo when hee perſecuted the Chriſtians before hee was conuerted, althoughe that manye had renounced the ſaluation whiche they ſhoulde hauehave accepted as it was offered them in Ieſus Chriſte: yet ought not the fayth too bee defaced therefore. Likewyſe in theſe dayes when wee ſee manie wretched folke quayle and giuegive ouer all, and otherſome agayne holde oute at whoſe handes wee woulde not hauehave looked for any greate conſtancie: let vsus profite our ſelues thereby, and bee oute of all doubt that although the whole worlde go too ruyne, yet wee hauehave a good and ſure foundation, if wee reſt vppon our God. Nowe whereas Saint Paule addeth, that the faithfull glorifyed God in him: it is too ſhewe the better, (ſo as men might perceyue it euen by eyſight) that the chaunge whiche was made in him, proceeded of the onelyonly hande of God. And all of it commeth too this poynt, namely that hee had not thruſt himſelfe in, and that it coulde not bee layde too his charge that he had preached at all aduenture, nor that there was any raſhneſſe or preſumption in him, or that hee was dryuen wyth any worldly reſpect, but that God had gouerned and guyded him. For whereas the faythfull had glorifyed God in him: it was by acknowledging that the renuing of ſuche a man after that faſhion, and the making of a rauening VVoolfe too become a Sheepe, yea and a Sheephearde, was his woorke, and a verie miracle that proceeded from hym. Marke that for a ſpeciall poynt. And heereby wee ſee briefly, that they on whom God hath beſtowed giftes of grace, ſo as they excell and are farre aboue all others, muſt not therefore aduaunce themſelues, but finde meanes that the prayſe may bee yeelded too him that hath right too it, and which hath deſerued it. VVherefore let vsus keepe this rule of humilitie, whiche is, that wee ſeeke not our owne eſtimation, nor too preferre our ſelues aboue oure neighbours, for any of the gyftes that God hath beſtowed vppon vsus, but that God may alwayes hauehave his preeminence, and euerie of vsus learne too glorifie hym for it, when wee ſee any of hys gracious gyftes in any man. And that is verie needefull: for there hath alwayes beene ſuch ſpytefulneſſe among men, that euerye man enuyeth his companyon, bycauſe all men deſire to be greateſt. And vntill God hauehave well tamed vsus, and we be learned to obey meekely: it is certayne that there is none of vsus all, but he woulde fayne ouerreache his fellowe. Nowe out of this ambition ſpring alwayes enuie and ſtrife, togyther with diſdayne, grudging, backbyting, and ſuche other lyke things. But contrariwyſe, when wee hauehave well digeſted the rule that is gyuen vsus heere, by and by wee learne too glorifie God as oft as wee ſee any tokens that come from him. For when wee enuye thoſe whome God woulde hauehave honoured, and go aboute too deface his giftes whiche wee perceyue in them, and all excellencie: ſurely wee doo not onelyonly offer wrong too mortall creatures, but alſo too God, who is the Authour of the gyftes in them. [As for example:] I ſee a man that is able too edifie the Churche, and God hath indued him with ſuche gyftes, that his labour maye doo good: nowe I fearing leaſt hee ſhoulde bee aduaunced too muche, and I bee plucked backe by it, doo go aboute by my ſlaunders and ouerthwart meanes, too deface and diminiſhe the thing that God hathe putte in hym. It is all one as if hee woulde hyde all Gods gyftes, and bring them in contempt.
And whereof commeth this, but of the curſed ambition that I ſpake of afore? Nowe in ſuche heauing at men, there will alwayes bee ſome ſtrife and hartburning: and too bee ſhort, all muſt needes go too wracke, bycauſe God is offended at it. For at whome doo theſe wrongs ame? True it is that I doo wrong too my neighbour whome I diſgrace after that ſorte: but therewithall I doo alſo blaſpheme God: ſo as wee cannot deface the giftes and vertues that are in anye man, but that our dooyng is foorthwith matched wyth blaſphemie, wherethrough God is greeuouſly offended. And why? For God will bee acknowledged in all his giftes, and when hee offereth himſelfe vntoo vsus, it is good reaſon that wee ſhoulde honour him. Therefore whenſoeuer wee ſee any tokens of the holy Ghoſt in anye man, if wee treade them vnderunder foote, or holde ſcorne of them, and miſlyke them: is it not a defacing of Gods Maieſtie too the vttermoſte of oure power? Truely wee will not confeſſe it, but yet is it ſo in verye deede. And therefore muſte wee take ſo muche the better heede of that whiche is ſpoken heere: namely that the faythfull glorifyed GOD in the perſon of Sainct Paule, when they ſawe hee had wrought after that manner in hym: and that by that meanes wee bee put in mynde that wee bee bounde too yeelde God hys dew honour, whenſoeuer hee offereth or ſheweth vsus anye of his gyftes. For the reproche or wrong is not done too the creature: but it is GOD that is vnregarded in ſo dooyng; bycauſe hee is defrauded and robbed of the right that belongeth vntoo him.
And ſo much the more doth it ſtande vsus on hande to remember this leſſon, bycauſe we ſee this naughtineſſe too bee as great nowadayes, as euer it was. Howe many are there that commende the giftes of God that are profitable for the common edifying, and for the welfare of the whole Church? Nay rather, the Diuell beareth ſuch a ſway, that eueryevery man through his owne vnthankfulneſſe, hindereth himſelfe too receyue the frute of Gods giftes, whereof hee might bee parttaker. So then if wee had honeſt and well meening heartes, ſurely wee ſhoulde alwayes fare the better when wee ſawe any good example: and where any man is indued with Gods giftes, wee ſhoulde applie the ſame too our owne profite: but wee ſhette our ſelues out of the doores through our owne cankerhartedneſſe, ſo as wee cannot inioy the benefite that is offered vsus. Againe, wee ſee there are ſome ſo ſpitefull, that of verie malice they woulde fayne make men beleeue that the Sunne ſhyneth not: yee ſhall ſee them ſo diueliſhe, that it ſpyteth them at the heart too ſee Gods name glorifyed by another mans meanes. Muſte that fellowe hauehave the honour ſay they? Verely as who ſhoulde ſay, that euerie man ought not too hauehave an eye too the abacing of himſelfe, that God might bee honoured as he deſerueth, in the giftes that he giueth men as hee himſelfe liſteth. But there are ſome ſo cankerhearted, that they coulde finde in theyr heartes too plucke God out of his ſeate, rather than too abyde thoſe paciently whome hee hath indued with his giftes, and which imploy themſelues to the edifying of his Church, or that men ſhoulde receyue them and acknowledge that God will be honoured in them. Seeing then that men are nowadayes ſo full of malice and venim: we hauehave the more neede too beare in minde what is ſhewed vsus heere: that is too witte, that God muſt bee glorifyed in all hys benefites that are ſeene of vsus, aſſuring our ſelues that they come all of his mere liberalitie, and that hee is the Authour of all good qualities, ſo as there is not that commendable thing in any creature, which ought not too bee fathered vppon him. VVherefore let vsus learne too glorifie God in all poyntes and all reſpectes.
Nowe herevpon he addeth, that yet once againe hee made a iourney to Ieruſalem, and commoned with ſuch as bare the countenance and had moſt authoritie, too the end he might not [ſeeme too] hauehave runne in vayne heretofore, nor runne in vayne hereafter. Here wee ſee howe S. Paule was neuer ſatisfied in ſeeking all that might bee too the aduauncement of the kingdome of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and too the taking away of lettes, too the intent that the Goſpell might hauehave his free courſe and full ſcope, yea & that he was not led therevnto by vaine preſumptuouſneſſe, as wee ſawe this morning: but conſidered that the wicked ſorte woulde lay to his charge, that yet at length he came too ſubmit himſelfe too the Apoſtles, too learne ſomewhat at their handes. He conſidered that this might well bee ſayd vntounto him: but hap what hap would, he intended not too forſlowe his duetie in ſeeking agreement with the [other] Apoſtles. I ſay not that he ſought a worldly matter at worldly mens handes: but too make his doings well allowed in all poynts. For it is certaine that S. Paule going too Ieruſalem, was not too skan who had taught beſt: but too make a mutuall declaration among themſelues, that eueryevery one of them had ſerued God and preached the Goſpell faithfully. That is the cauſe why S. Paule went thither. Therefore wee ſee heere his mildeneſſe, in that he ſpareth not himſelfe at all, ſo the Church may receyue any frute or confirmation of fayth by it, and men may bee wel aſſured that the Apoſtles reckened him as one of their aray and companie. Againe, beſides his mildeneſſe, wee ſee alſo his zeale. It had bin ynough for him too hauehave runne into many countries: hee had bin in Arabie and gone about all that land: he had bin in Cilicia where he was borne, and alſo in Syria: and afterward hauing firſte gone about the whole lande of Iewrie, he returned too Ieruſalem. Seyng he made all theſe voyages, and tooke none eaſe at all: it was a token that he would leuer hauehave bin dead than aliue, ſo the kingdome of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte might hauehave bin furthered by it, and the Churche hauehave receyued any profite by his trauell, as I ſayde afore. VVhen we ſee ſuch examples, let vsus on the one ſide learne to cut off our owne ſlouthfulneſſe, and to be more hartie in praying vntoo God, not too ſuffer vsus too lie weltering alwayes in our vices when wee bee ouer cold, but too waken vsus vp, and too graunt vsus the grace too ſpende our ſelues in his ſeruis, ſpecially at neede and when neceſsitie requireth it: and therewithall too ſtrengthen vsus in the doctrine that S. Paule bringeth, ſeyng that his ſeruing too the glory of God and too our welfare, was in good earneſt. For had he done it faynedly, it is certaine that he could hauehave gone too woorke after the maner of worldly folke. But now ſeyng he came without fetching, and ſought frendſhip & concord with the faithful although he were reiected, and ſpared not himſelfe though the paynes and labours that he tooke were not knowen of: it is a ſigne that he walked as before God, and that the holy Ghoſt guyded him in all reſpects. Furthermore whereas he ſayeth that he cōmoned with thoſe that were eſteemed and had in reputation, to the end he might not [ſeeme to] hauehave runne in vayne, nor runne in vayne [hereafter:] he meeneth not that he had loſt his labour, if noman liuing had allowed of his doings: but he had an eye too many weaklings which ſhould hauehave bin in doubte, if God ſhoulde not by that meanes hauehave drawen them too the full knowledge and certaintie of the Goſpell. I tolde you not long ſince, that our fayth muſte needes bee ouerthrowen, (howbeit not in reſpect of it ſelf, but in reſpect of our infirmitie,) when wee quayle. Euen ſo the labour of thoſe that preach and publiſhe the Goſpell is vayne and fruteleſſe, bycauſe wee profite not as were too bee wiſhed, except God bliſſe the labour and giuegive it increacement. VVhereas Sainct Paule ſayeth, to the end it may not ſeeme that he had runned in vayne: it is not to be vnderſtood that ſuche as preache the Goſpell doo loſe their labour and auayle not at all except God bliſſe their doyngs by his togither woorking: for the preachyng of the Goſpell ſhall alwayes bee an acceptable ſacrifize vntounto God, although the world receyue nothing but death and damnation by it, according as we hauehave ſeene how Sainct Paule in the ſecond too the Corinthians ſayeth, wee be a good ſauour vntounto God. Although the vnbeleeuers bee poyzoned by the Goſpell through theyr owne leudneſſe, and it ſeeme too them that there is nothing elſe but filthineſſe in it: yet wil God alwayes take in good woorth the ſacrifize that wee offer vntoo him. So then, in this text Sainct Paule ment not to ſay that he had runne in vayne, as though God had bin mocked by him, and that his preachyng had bin too no purpoſe: but he had an eye too thoſe whom he had taught, and too thoſe alſo whom he intended too teach too the end, howe that they were not edified when they perceyued not ſome good agreement betwixt him & the other Apoſtles, which were knowen to be ordeined by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Here a man might caſte ſome doubte, whither thoſe perſones were faithfull or no, in aſmuch as they had not beleeued the Goſpell, except they had bin ayded by men. The anſwer is eaſie: namely that the only woord of God ought to ſuffize for our fayth. If it be demaunded wherevpon our fayth is grounded, and how it cōmeth to full perfection: it is by Gods woord. How ſo? Are not the Sacramentes added to the woord? Yes, as helpes bicauſe we be ouerweake: yea & there is an Othe alſo, in ſomuch that God ſweareth: all which things are ouer and beſides the woord, yea and as an ouerplus. But he intendeth too lift vsus vp againe when he ſeeth vsus ſtumble: and when we bee ſo weake that wee truſt not ſo certainly to his power as wee ſhould do, he giueth vsus ſuche helpes. For when wee ſee good agreement betweene Gods ſeruants, ſurely it helpeth vsus much, and it is a good warrāt vntounto vsus. Likewiſe the bloud of Martyrs ought ſurely to bee a great furtherance of our ſaluation, and wee muſt bee confirmed by it, as though it were ſome ſeale too make Gods doctrine of the more authoritie among vsus. Then are they helpes too drawe vsus to the fayth, and too mayntayne and confirme vsus in the ſame. As much is too be ſayd of myracles. Miracles do not giuegive vsus beleef of Gods woord, but prepare vsus to it. For God vttereth his power in them, too the end we ſhould be the better wakened, and his woord hauehave the more reuerence amōg vsus, and finally they ſerue vsus for ſeales. For when we beleeue the Goſpell, and that our beleefe is not vtterly out of all doubt: God addeth that confirmatiō. Euē ſo is it with the thing that S. Paule treateth of preſently. For what a thing had it bin, if men had ſeene any diſagreement or trouble betwixt ſuch as were of great authoritie? VVhat might the ſillie ſoules hauehave thought, but that they muſte hauehave bin amazed at it and ſayd, Alas, what meaneth this? VVee wote not on which ſide too turne vsus. Seing there is ſuch variance betweene thoſe whiche ſhould ſhew vsus the way, that one drawes cleane contrarie and backe too other: alas howe may wee nowe bee aſſured? Thus yee ſee that manie ſimple folke had bin ſore ſhaken. And that is it whiche Sainct Paule mente by ſaying, that hee intended too common with Peter and Iohn and Iames, for a witneſſe through the whole world, that they allowed of his doings, and that the Goſpell whiche he preached was no ſtraunge doctrine, but the very ſame Goſpell that Ieſus Chriſt had taught his diſciples, and whiche he had commaunded them too publiſh ouer all the worlde, and whereof he had committed the charge vntounto them. And hereby wee be done too vnderſtand agayne, that beſide S. Paules zeale, mildeneſſe, ſtoutneſſe, and conſtancie: God foreſaw euen then, that this agreement which he vttered betwixt him and the other Apoſtles, would ſerue to confirme vsus alſo euen at this day by reaſon of our weakeneſſe. For aſmuch therefore as wee bee rawe and weake, let vsus apply to our vſe all the helpes that God giueth vsus, and let vsus alſo for our parte indeuer too agree in ſuch wyze with the children of God, as eueryevery of vsus may bee a help too his neighbour, and not imbattell our ſelues agaynſt another. For wo be to him that ſhall ſow ſuch Darnell, as the ignorant and weake ſort ſhall bee hindered by it. And therewithall let vsus conſider the miſchiefe that may happen, when ſuche as hauehave the charge too preache the Goſpell, are ſo disfamed, by ſlaunders, or elſe ſo brought in ſuſpicion, as a man cannot tell whither he may beleeue them or no, as though God had not ordeyned them too aduaunce the kingdome of his Sonne, and too publiſh the Goſpell in many Countries, or at leaſtwiſe among many folke that ſhould bee edified by them. Curſed be he therefore that ſhall caſt ſuch a ſtumblingblocke in their wayes. So then, let vsus by all meanes indeuer too agree with thoſe that ſerue God, and too help ſuch as hauehave the gifte and abilitie too edifie the Churche, and are put in office. Let vsus lende them our hand, that their labour may bee profitable bothe for our ſelues and for all our neighbours, that by that meanes God may bee glorified, and wee more and more with one hart and one mouth call vppon him as our father.
And now let vsus fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes, praying him too make vsus ſo to feele them, as it may drawe vsus to right repentance, and make vsus beſeeche him too vſe his infinite merciemercy towardes vsus, vntill he hauehave ſo rid vsus of all our imperfections, that wee may behold him face to face as he is, and attayne too the perfection wherevntoo he calleth vsus now by his woord, and wherevnto it behoueth vsus to go foreward all our lyfe long, beyng well aſſured that wee canno… come too it, till wee bee rid of our fleſh, and taken out of this pryſon wherein we bee now hilde vnderunder the bondage of ſinne. That it may pleaſe him too graunt this grace not onelyonly too vsus, but alſo too all people and nacions of the earth, &c.